Page Metadata

OLD CHRISTMAS STILL KEPT UP had origin ai n in first english colony in new world each year we read with sentimental interest descriptions of the celebration of old christmas by tish and other residents of the ancient village of rodanthe on the long and narrow outer barrier islands that impound pamlico sound off north carolina sometimes we read that the celebration Is held on january 5 and sometimes that it Is 18 held on january 6 the difference bein ing that twelfth night or old christmas eye eve rally may have greater emphasis in celebration than twelfth tide ride on twelfth day old christmas day as the villagers continue a celebration that extends back to their forefathers and even the time of sir walter raleigh and establishment of the first english colony in the new world however if aie c search the back districts of the missouri ozarks it la Is quite likely that we could find this belated celebration of christmas much closer to our own modern homes as well as hear the belief expressed that flint on twelfth night cattle of the fields field kneel in greeting to the newborn new born christ this tradition and refusal to accept the calendar corrections of pope gregory were brought to this country tr y by early settlers from britain an and 1 I persisted for many generations not only in the barrier islands that protect north carolina from the raging ragin sea but in the mountains along th the eastern seaboard spreading even to the ozarks of missouri and arkansas as the mountaineers sought new homes it Is fitting however that the tradition had its spread only by y family and that the outstanding community expressions remains near the place it was introduced to america in dare county north carolina whore where the first white child to be born in america came into beina this child 1 was virginia dare granddaughter ot of john white a lender leader whose small roanoke island colony disappeared without trace race while white was on a journey home for supplies Is only about a score of miles from roanoke island and a part of the same chain of banks with kitty hawk where the first successful airplane light flight was made only a few miles away on the same chain so ro what better place could be found for the support ot of tradition even though there be some uncertainty whether it Is in observance of old christmas eye eve or old christmas day that fishing nets are laid aside st louis globe democrat